Pressure Induced Valence Changes in YbAl$_3$ Studied by Resonant Inelastic X-Ray Emission

ORAL

Abstract

We have performed high resolution x-ray absorption (XAS) and resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) experiments to probe the pressure dependence of Yb valence in YbAl$_{3}$ up to 38 GPa. XAS spectra were collected in the partial fluorescence yield (PFY) mode with a Si (333) analyzer at the Yb L$_{3}$ edge. The RIXS spectra were recorded by fixing the incident energy and collecting the transferred energy as a function of pressure in 2 eV steps. The results showed a continuous valence change from intermediate (between 2+ to 3+) towards trivalent due to enhancement of 4f hybridization similar to other mixed valent Yb heavy fermion compounds under pressure [1, 2]. The 2+ to 3+ conversion of the valence state of Yb is almost complete above 29 GPa. The results, along with x-ray diffraction measurements, will be presented in detail. 1. C. Dallera, M. Grioni, A. Shukla, G. Vanko, J. L. Sarrao, J. P. Rueff and D. L. Cox Phys. Rev. Lett., 88, 196403 (2002) 2. C. Dallera, E. Annese, J. P. Rueff, A. Palenzona, G. Vanko, L. Braicovich, A. Shukla and M. Grioni, Phys. Rev. B., 68, 245114 (2003)

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Authors

  • Andrew Cornelius

  • Ravhi Kumar

    • University of Nevada, Las Vegas

  • Malcolm Nicol

    • University of Nevada, Las Vegas
    • High Pressure Science and Engineering Center, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
    • UNLV and HiPSEC

  • Michael Hu

    • Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory

  • Eric D. Bauer

    • Los Alamos National Lab

  • John L. Sarrao

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • Los Alamos National Lab
    • LANL
    • Condensed Matter and Thermal Physics, Los Alamos National Laboratory